Drawstring cover for clothing

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to a garment in which the width of an opening is adjustable by means of a cord or drawstring having free ends accessible by the wearer which ends are usually tied together to maintain the desired adjustment and to a cover comprising means to retain the tied ends of the cord or drawstring within the garment during activity by the wearer.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a garment in which the width of an opening is adjustable by means of a cord or drawstring having free ends accessible by the wearer which ends are usually tied together to maintain the desired adjustment and to a cover comprising means to retain the tied ends of the cord or drawstring within the garment during activity by the wearer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

It is commonplace for the waists of trousers, shorts or skirts and other types of clothing to be reduced in width by adjusting a belt. It is also known for such garments, particularly those used in sports, i.e., soccer, wrestling, etc., to employ a drawstring which is confined within the waistband of the garment with the ends passing through an aperture on the inside of the waistband at the front of the garment whereby the wearer is able to grasp the ends of the drawstring and pull them to adjust the waistband to fit, whereupon the ends of the drawstring are tied, usually in a bow, and tucked in between the garment and the wearer's body.

In such circumstances it is not unusual for the tied ends of the drawstring to work their way out from between the inside of the waistband and the wearer's body and to become exposed such that they may become untied or, in the case of a close contact sport such as wrestling, inadvertently entangled in an opponent's fingers.

Thus there is perceived a need for a means to comfortably retain the tied ends of a drawstring in place within a garment during physical activity which does not add bulk around the waist of the garment and which does not present discomfort or danger to the wearer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention provides an item of clothing in which the width of an opening therein is adjustable by means of a drawstring confined within a band encircling the opening, the drawstring having exposed ends whereby the width of the opening is adjustable by pulling on the ends of the drawstring, the ends being secured by tying them together, the item of clothing further having a drawstring cover in the form of a flap or panel secured along one edge to the band encircling the opening adjacent to and above the ends of the drawstring, this flap or panel being positionable over the tied ends of the drawstring between the band and the wearer's body to cover and confine the tied ends of the drawstring. The flap or panel is secured to the band in such a manner that, in its relaxed state, the panel hangs downward within the garment over the drawstring ends.

Preferably, the surface of the flap or panel which lies against the drawstring ends and the inside of the garment has a texture which provides a high degree of friction with the fabric of the garment and the drawstring to ensure retention of the flap or panel in its correct position within the garment, thereby ensuring confinement of the ends of the drawstring. The surface of the flap or panel which lies against the wearer's body is preferably smooth and non-irritating to the skin.

In its simplest form, the flap or panel is s single layer of fabric sewn into the band above the drawstring along one edge of the panel. Alternatively, the flap or panel may be two layers of fabric sewn together with an intermediate layer of stiffening material, such as Pelon which is a fusible liner material commonly used to provide structure to shirt collars and the like. Also, if desired, a layer of padding, such as foam or non-woven batting may be provided between the two layers of fabric as a cushion between the tied ends of the drawstring and the wearer's body. In a still further embodiment, the flap or panel may be provided with a pouch or pocket on the drawstring side into which the tied ends of the drawstring may be tucked for added security.

The present invention is particularly suitable for use with drawstrings used to adjust the waist size of a garment but may be used anywhere a drawstring is used where the ends of the drawstring are accessed from within the garment.

Thus, it is an object of this invention to provide a garment comprising an adjustable waistband, a cord within the waistband, the cord having two ends passing out of the waistband through at least one opening therein within the garment and accessible to a wearer whereby the cord can be pulled by the wearer to adjust the size of the waistband about the wearer, the ends of the cord being tieable to maintain the adjusted size, cover means secured to the waistband adjacent to the at least one opening and positionable over the tied cord between the garment and the wearer whereby the tied cord is confined between the garment and the cover means whereby eversion of the tied cord from between the garment and the wearer is prevented.

It is a further object to provide a garment having a circumferentially adjustable opening, a band encircling the opening on the inside of the garment and confining a cord therein, an aperture in the band, the cord extending about the opening within the band and having two free ends passing through the aperture whereby the cord is adjustable by pulling on the ends, the ends being securable by tying them together, the improvement comprising:

a fabric panel having a first side and a second side, the panel being secured along an edge thereof to the band between the opening and the aperture, whereby the panel is normally positioned over the aperture whereby the ends of the cord are confined between the first side of the panel and the inside of the garment and whereby the panel is displaceable outward of the garment to provide access to the cord ends.

It is a still further object to provide a drawstring cover for a garment having a waistband adjustable by means of a drawstring the ends of which pass through an aperture in the waistband and are accessed from within the garment for adjustment and tying, the drawstring cover comprising a fabric panel secured to the waistband along an edge of the panel between the aperture and the outer edge of the waistband, the panel adapted to hang downward within the garment over the ends of the drawstring between the drawstring and a wearer, whereby the panel covers and confines the drawstring whereby the tied drawstring is prevented from being inadvertently everted or pulled from within the garment.

Further objects and advantages will become evident from the following drawings and descriptions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1. is an expanded view showing the present invention in a garment.

FIG. 2. is a planar view of the inside of a garment with the drawstring cover in place.

FIG. 3. is a view of the inside of a garment showing an alternative embodiment of the drawstring cover having a pocket for receiving the ends of the drawstring.

FIG. 4. shows the embodiment of FIG. 3 with the drawstring tucked into the pocket.

FIG. 5. is a cross section showing the first stage of construction of a garment according to the present invention.

FIG. 6. is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2 showing the construction of a garment according to the present invention.

FIG. 7. is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2 showing the construction of a garment with the alternative embodiment of FIG. 3.

FIG. 8. is a view of the inside of a garment showing an alternative embodiment of the pocket for receiving the ends of the drawstring.

FIG. 9 is a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2 showing the construction of the embodiment of FIG. 8.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Looking at FIG. 1, the present invention provides a drawstring cover 1 which is sewn into a garment 2 with a waistband 3 and a drawstring 4. In the normal construction of a drawstring garment, the waistband 3 and garment 2 are sewn together along stitching lines 5 and 6 so that a space 18 is left between them to accommodate the drawstring 4. An aperture 7 is provided in the waistband 3, usually at the inside front of the garment, through which the ends 8 of the drawstring pass so as to be accessible to the wearer.

In an ordinary drawstring garment, the garment is donned by the wearer and the ends 8 of the drawstring 4 are pulled to adjust the fit of the garment about the wearer's waist. The ends 8 of the drawstring are then tied together to retain the adjustment and the tied ends 8 are simply tucked inside the garment between the waistband 3 and the wearer's body. In this position, there is nothing to keep the tied ends of the drawstring inside the garment and it is often the case that simple movements by the wearer cause the tied ends to be everted where they can become loosened and entangled.

In its simplest embodiment shown in FIG. 1, drawstring cover 1 is sewn into a finished garment 2 along stitching line 9 which preferably coincides with stitching line 5 and hangs downward over waistband 3 and tied ends 8 of drawstring 4. In this embodiment, drawstring cover 1 comprises a single layer of fabric which may be the same as that used to manufacture garment 2. To bias drawstring cover 1 in its downward position, the tack stitches 10 are applied at each end of stitching 9 securing drawstring cover to waistband 3 below the location of drawstring 4. In this manner, the upper edge 12 and the upper ends of the sides of drawstring cover 1 at the tack stitches 10 form a downwardly opening pouch over drawstring ends 8 which physically prevents drawstring ends 8 from being everted from their tucked in position within garment 2.

As noted, drawstring cover 1 in this embodiment is a single layer of fabric which may be the same as that used to manufacture garment 2 or such other fabric as is desired. Examples include but are not limited to cotton, polyester, nylon, and other natural or synthetic fibers including blends thereof. Preferably, any fabric used should have at least one side that is comfortable and non-irritating to human skin and that side will be outermost in the completed construction. The opposite side facing garment 2 and drawstring ends 8 may have a texture which provides a high coefficient of friction against garment 2 and drawstring ends 8 to resist sliding against garment 2 thereby improving the ability of drawstring cover 1 to remain in place over drawstring ends 8. As an alternative, patches of hook and loop fastener material 11 may be used along the lower edge of drawstring cover 1 with corresponding portions on the inside of garment 2, as shown in FIG. 6, to ensure that drawstring cover 1 remains in place during physical activity. For drawstrings in locations other than a garment waist, more rigid fasteners such as snaps or buttons may be used.

Drawstring cover 1 is of sufficient size and shape to permit securing to garment 2 in the manner described and to provide the desired coverage over drawstring ends 8. A substantially rectangular panel of 3 to 6 inches along each side is suitable. Alternatively, drawstring cover 1 may be semicircular as shown in the drawing figures with attachment to garment 2 being along the straight edge 12. Of course, drawstring cover 1 may be provided in any shape desired as long as it provides the desired function.

Although drawstring cover 1 in its simplest form comprises a single layer of fabric, in order to obtain a comfortable, non-irritating outer face and a textured inner face, drawstring cover 1 may comprise two layers of dissimilar fabric secured together about their common peripheries. In this construction, if desire, a layer of padding, such as foam or non-woven batting, or a fabric stiffener, such as pelon, may be provided between the inner and outer fabric layers.

The foregoing describes a garment construction wherein the drawstring cover 1 is simply sewn directly to the waist of a completed garment 2 so as to be in place over the drawstring ends 8. Preferably, however, drawstring cover 1 is included during the construction of garment 2 as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 5 shows a cross section of the first stage of this construction with waistband 3, drawstring cover 1 and garment 2 sewn together along stitching lines 5 in a layered assembly which is the partially assembled garment turned inside out. As shown in FIG. 6, this assembly is then turned right side out by folding garment 2 over stitching lines 5 and the sewn together ends of drawstring cover 1, garment 2 and waistband 3. Drawstring 4 is placed in the space 18 between waistband 3 and garment 2 with the ends 8 threaded through aperture 7 and waistband 3 and garment 2 are sewn together along stitching lines 6. Alternatively, waistband 3 and garment 2 may be sewn together along stitching lines 6, thereby creating space 18 and drawstring threaded through aperture 7 and space 18 so that both ends 8 extend outward through aperture 7.

FIG. 6 shows the above construction of the single fabric layer embodiment as a cross section along line A-A of FIG. 2. In an alternative embodiment which is a variation of the double layer construction described previously, the second or inner layer 13 can be used to form a pocket on drawstring cover 1 in which the ends 8 of drawstring 4 may be tucked for further security. This embodiment is shown in FIGS. 3 and 4 and in cross section in FIG. 7 where second layer 13 is shorter than drawstring cover 1 and the two layers are sewn together around their common peripheral edges 14. The top edge 15 of second layer 13 is not sewn so that a pocket 16 is formed between drawstring cover 1 and second layer 13. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, drawstring ends are tucked into pocket 16 with drawstring cover 1 everted. Drawstring cover 1 is then folded downward between garment 2 and wearer to securely confine drawstring ends 8.

In a further embodiment, shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, drawing cover 1 and second layer 13 are separate fabric layers of the same size and shape sewn together along their common peripheral edges at 14. Access to pocket 16 is by means of a slit 17 cut across part of second layer 13 below stitch lines 5. Edges of slit may be reinforced by whip stitching as in button holes or by such other means as are known. In this embodiment, drawstring ends 8 are tucked into pocket 16 through slit 17 and drawstring cover 1 is then tucked downward in between garment 2 and wearer.

While the invention has been described with respect to certain specific embodiments, it will be appreciated that many modifications and changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. It is intended, therefore, by the appended claims to cover all such modifications and changes as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. 

1. A garment comprising an adjustable waistband, a cord within said waistband, said cord having two ends passing out of said waistband through at least one opening therein within said garment and accessible to a wearer whereby said cord can be pulled by said wearer to adjust the size of said waistband about said wearer, said ends of said cord being tieable to maintain said adjusted size, cover means secured to said waistband adjacent to said at least one opening and positionable over said tied cord between said garment and said wearer whereby said tied cord is confined between said garment and said cover means whereby eversion of said tied cord from between said garment and said wearer is prevented.
 2. The garment of claim 1 wherein said cover comprises an elongated fabric panel secured along the inner surface of said waistband immediately above and centered relative to said at least one opening, said panel having a length to extend downward over said opening and said tied cord when folded downward inside said garment whereby said tied cord is confined between said panel and said garment.
 3. The garment of claim 2 wherein said panel comprises means to releasably secure said panel to said tied cord and said garment in the downward position.
 4. The garment of claim 2 wherein said cover comprises a first side normally facing the inside of said garment and a second side normally facing said wearer, said first side having a high coefficient of friction relative to said garment whereby said cover resists displacement relative to said garment, and said second side is soft and non-irritating to the skin of said wearer.
 5. The garment of claim 4 further comprising a pocket on said first side, said pocket opening upward when said cover is in position between said garment and said wearer, said pocket further receiving said tied ends of said cord and confining same therein.
 6. In a garment having a circumferentially adjustable opening, a band encircling said opening on the inside of said garment and confining a cord therein, an aperture in said band, said cord extending about said opening within said band and having two free ends passing through said aperture whereby said cord is adjustable by pulling on said ends, said ends being securable by tying them together, the improvement comprising: a fabric panel having a first side and a second side, said panel being secured along an edge thereof to said band between said opening and said aperture, whereby said panel is normally positioned over said aperture whereby said ends of said cord are confined between said first side of said panel and the inside of said garment and whereby said panel is displaceable outward of said garment to provide access to said cord ends.
 7. The garment of claim 6 further comprising a pocket in said first side of said panel, said pocket receiving and confining said ends of said cord therein.
 8. The garment of claim 6 wherein said first side of said panel has a texture providing a gripping action against said cord ends and the fabric of said garment, whereby said panel resists displacement relative to said garment.
 9. The garment of claim 6, wherein said panel comprises a first layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer side wherein said outer side of said first layer corresponds to said first side of said panel and has a texture providing a gripping action against said cord ends and said garment, a second layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer side wherein said outer side of said second layer corresponds to said second side of said panel and has a surface texture that is soft and non-irritating, said first and second layers of fabric being joined about their peripheries whereby said inner side of said first layer and said inner side of said second layer are facing.
 10. The garment of claim 9 further comprising a layer of cushioning material between said first layer and said second layer.
 11. The garment of claim 9 further comprising a pocket formed on said outer side of said first layer, said pocket having an opening adjacent to said aperture in said band whereby said pocket is capable of removably receiving said free ends of said cord.
 12. The garment of claim 11 wherein said pocket is formed by providing a slot in said first layer whereby said pocket comprises the space between said first layer and said second layer.
 13. The garment of claim 11 wherein said pocket is formed by a third layer of fabric applied over said first layer of fabric and secured thereto about common peripheral edges, said third layer having a transverse edge across said first layer adjacent to said aperture in said band, said transverse edge remaining unsecured.
 14. A drawstring cover for a garment having a waistband adjustable by means of a drawstring the ends of which pass through an aperture in said waistband and are accessed from within said garment for adjustment and tying, said drawstring cover comprising a fabric panel secured to said waistband along an edge of said panel between said aperture and the outer edge of said waistband, said panel adapted to hang downward within said garment over said ends of said drawstring between said drawstring and a wearer, whereby said panel covers and confines said drawstring, whereby said tied drawstring is prevented from being inadvertently everted or pulled from within said garment.
 15. The drawstring cover of claim 14 further comprising means to prevent displacement of said panel from a covering position during physical activity.
 16. The drawstring cover of claim 15 wherein said means to prevent displacement comprises a texture on the side of said panel facing said garment and said drawstring whereby said panel releasably adheres to said garment and said drawstring.
 17. The drawstring cover of claim 16 further comprising a pocket in the side of said panel facing said garment and drawstring, said pocket adapted to removably receive and confine said tied drawstring therein.
 18. The drawstring cover of claim 17 wherein said panel further comprises two facing layers of fabric secured about their common peripheries, a first layer facing said garment and said drawstring and having a slit adjacent to said waistband aperture thereby providing access to an area between said facing layers forming said pocket, said tied drawstring being insertable into said pocket through said slit, and a second layer facing a wearer, said second layer having a layer of padding secured to its inner surface and having an outer surface that is smooth and non-irritating to human skin.
 19. The drawstring cover of claim 14 wherein said garment, said panel and said waistband are sewn together in a layered relationship with said panel garment layer innermost and said panel intermediate said garment layer and said waistband, said garment layer is then folded over said waistband and sewn to said waistband whereby said garment layer is outermost, said panel is innermost and said waistband is intermediate said garment layer and said panel, said waistband and said garment layer forming a channel to receive said drawstring, and said panel naturally depends within said garment over said aperture in said waistband, said panel further being tack stitched at each end to said waistband.
 20. The drawstring cover of claim 19 wherein said panel has a first side facing said garment and a second said facing a wearer and comprises a first layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer side wherein said outer side of said first layer corresponds to said first side of said panel and has a texture providing a gripping action against said cord ends and said garment, a second layer of fabric having an inner side and an outer side wherein said outer side of said second layer corresponds to said second side of said panel and has a surface texture that is soft and non-irritating, said first and second layers of fabric being joined about their peripheries whereby said inner side of said first layer and said inner side of said second layer are facing. 